Archive for October, 2017

COMBINING HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS WITH TECHNOLOGY’S ADVANCES
Anthony Geraci, founder of Geraci Law Firm, believes the path to success in the coming years can be found in combining the latest technology with the oldest of human emotions—the need for establishing relationships. Geraci says, “What we figured out is that you can take all the technology you want, but let’s get a bit […]

Networking: How To Disengage From a Dead-End Conversation
We’ve all found ourselves trapped in a dead-end conversation at a networking event. Someone drones on about a topic in which you have no interest. Or, it’s simply someone you don’t like. Or, there’s nothing wrong with the topic or the person, but you can’t spend that much time with any one person. You need […]

Six Ways to Make Clients Happy to Pay Your Bills
No one likes to pay bills. Even when the service or product we are paying for was way more valuable than the actual dollar amount on the invoice, we humans just hate to see the money out the door. And that natural resistance to doling out the bucks can often leave a lawyer looking at […]

What’s New in Structured Settlements? A Lot!
Structured settlements became a popular alternative to lump sum settlements in the 1970s. In 1982, Congress adopted special tax rules that encouraged the use of structured settlements for personal injury victims and their families. Since then, little has changed in the industry—until recently. What used to be an industry with narrow parameters, now offers much […]

Seize Your Reader’s Attention and Erase Doubt From Your Marketing Copy
Drafting the Headline During the last century, countless advertising and marketing experts have crowned it king of the copy castle— the most critical element in any promotional piece. This status is well-deserved. After all, the headline is your first opportunity to grab your prospect’s attention. If you fail to attract eyeballs and communicate a reason […]

Organized Succinct Summaries of Some New California Civil Cases
CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT Torts Rubenstein v. Doe No. 1 (2017) _ Cal.5th _, 2017 WL 3691550: The California Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeal decision finding that plaintiff had timely filed her sexual molestation claim in 2012, arising from events that occurred in 1993 and 1994. The California Supreme Court ruled that a government […]

Written Schedule of Services and Fees Multiplies Credibility, Increases Client Comfort
How do you present fees in a way that emphasizes the value of your services and takes the spotlight off the price? If you’re a student of sales and marketing, you’ve probably read about the importance of completing your sales pitch and not revealing the price until the end. But, if you’re the person who […]

Seven Words to Learn Before You Apply for Your Next Loan
Growing law firms need cash, but cash can get tight. All firms should have access to reserve cash, such as a line of credit, but applying for a loan can be nerve-wracking— especially when bankers start throwing out unfamiliar terms. One of my clients (now in his second year on the Inc. 5000) needed to […]

Five Steps to Confront Burnout, Addiction And Depression
There’s no denying it: Lawyers have the highest behavioral impairment rate of any profession. Research has shown it. It is spotlighted in the media, as in a recent New York Times feature on a lawyer who tragically spiraled into addiction behind closed doors. And in August, the American Bar Association National Task Force on Lawyer […]

Community News – October 2017
For the fourth consecutive year, Berger Kahn has been included in the Best Lawyers of America list for Southern California, an esteemed list celebrating only the top 3% of the Bar. Berger Kahn attorneys included were: Craig Simon, Sherman Spitz, Stephan Cohn, and David Ezra. Shareholder David Ezra was also named the Best Lawyers 2018 […]